2026-04-02T21:55:17Z

William H. Avery papers, 1954-1964

Abstract Or Scope

The William H. Avery Papers document a number of his activities in state and national politics during the years 1954-1964. The papers contain personal and business correspondence, speeches, printed material, photographs and scrapbooks. They are housed in six document boxes.
The papers are divided into four areas: 1) campaign materials (1960-1968), 20 congressional newsletters (1956-1964), 3) printed materials (1954-1955; 1965-1966), and 4) literary works. The most significant part of the collection is the campaign material contained in the three and a half document boxes. There are folders of election statistics, news releases announcement of candidacy, printed material concerning Avery's inauguration, and other general material concerning his years in the U. S. Congress and as Governor of Kansas. The correspondence is both personal and official in nature and includes many letters from local supporters and fellow congressmen. There is also a considerable correspondence between the Avery Election Office and national and local press.
The congressional newsletters in the collection are weekly installments describing the activities of the U.S. Congress. They contain no personal information about Avery but provide a good summary of the political issues from 1956 to 1964.
The third group contains printed materials, primarily newspaper clippings. Organized by topic are a variety of newspaper editorials related to subjects of concern to Kansans. Of interest are the newspaper clippings about Avery's governorship in 1966. The clippings are filed chronologically in one document box. Additional newspaper clippings regarding the Tuttle Creek Dam controversy, 1954-1955, are contained in a scrapbook.
A fourth part of the collection consists of two notebooks handwritten by an anonymous author. They appear to document a family history of Czech immigrants to the U.S. who settled in Nebraska in the late 1800's. Included are printed photographs of family members identified only by their first name.
Photographs (26) in the collection were transferred to the photograph cabinet and filed under Avery's name.

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Collection Context